Morning all.

Another day on from the game at The Etihad yet still Arsenal’s style of play after Leandro Trossard was sent off still occupies the sports headlines. These critics need to get a grip really because had they been involved in what Mikel Arteta had to deal with, I’m sure they’d be singing his praises. Did they honestly expect us to try and go toe to toe with Guardiola’s side with a one man disadvantage?

There are clubs in this league who play with a defensive setup away from home every week and there’s a reason for that. They don’t want to get spanked! However, when a manager does that against Arsenal for example, they’re given credit. Meanwhile, Arsenal are criticised for not being able to breakdown a disciplined defence. I heard one of the pundits mention the Newcastle game a while ago and Arteta’s rant after the game because of Howe’s tactics but I’m pretty sure his grievance was with the officiating for their goal rather than their style of football.

There’s an excellent article in The Athletic this morning written by Art de Roché.

Arsenal hosted Manchester City in a 3-0 defeat five days before Arteta was named head coach. He was in the away dugout as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager, with Freddie Ljungberg Arsenal’s interim head coach. In his post-match press conference that day, the Swede outlined Arsenal’s issues compared to City, saying:

What we can learn is that we got done again in transitions, but if you look at City, when we countered them, they took five yellow cards from just taking us down. That’s something we need to learn, to be a bit more cynical when opponents have a chance to counter because that is a weakness of ours. We need to take those fouls. That (cynical fouls) was intelligent by City. It’s obvious to see.

The writer mentions the time when Gabriel Martinelli went to ground with cramp against West Ham. The Brazilian got himself over the sideline only to see Mikel Arteta pull him up again and be told to get back onto the pitch. A similar thing happened to Thomas Partey when he suffered injury. When Arteta shoved him back on the pitch it seemed so very wrong but on both occasions, it was more about keeping a body on the pitch so the referee has to stop the game which gives Arteta time to plan his next move. I strongly suspect he learned that during his time at Man City, either that or he initiated it. Whichever, it’s just being smart as why give the opposition a one man advantage even if it is just for a couple of minutes.

The game was a feisty affair. From the moment Kai Havertz let Rodri know he was on the pitch. Like most I’d imagine, I love the feistiness as long as both sets of players don’t cross the line, not that Michael Oliver would have noticed if a City player did, it shows the players care. City aren’t used to having to fight to the death for an equaliser because they’re so used to rolling Arsenal over with ease. Well, those days are over!

The Athletic article ends with:

Even if certain moments can be handled better, Arsenal are no longer easy to play against. They are a genuine threat to City, which was made clear in how animated Erling Haaland was both after John Stones’ equaliser and the full-time whistle. That comes from how Arteta has made them more competitive in the way they play and how they behave on the pitch, which should be a compliment rather than a stick to be beaten with.

I think that’s something we all agree on….

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

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